My insight on how to play the lanes correctly at the Open Championships.....
I made a trip down to Vegas last week to check out the venue and lane conditions at this years Open Championships. Also more importantly to go hang out and watch some friends bowl too. I have to say it is a big advantage to make an earlier trip to get some insight on how the condition will play.......because it is different than past years......
First of all it is my opinion that there is way too much oil on the lane period (this is the most oil ever at Nationals).......so many people are going to think that aggressive balls and bowling balls with strong layouts may be the way to go............but that's not the case........it might be ok for about a game in Team event....... but after that it won't be good......and this is why.......
10% More oil on the lane than last year with all that extra oil between 10 and 40 feet ....... heads will break down as fast as last year but down the lane will play much tighter..... ......here's a clue............. having some shine on the surface of your ball might be key this year to create some backend reaction and more overall hook.
Last year they had the extra reverse loads at 10 and the 12 board while this year they have them at 6 and 9. You have only have three ways to attack a pattern when you are on the fresh (Team event)......Outside, Inside or right on top of where those extra loads are......... People got fooled last year when Mike Jasnau hinted to people to play outside of it when in fact the right place to play to start was on top of it.... Another thing to remember .....about every legitimate condition you bowl on you will very seldom be able to play directly outside the extra shim unless the pattern is short or the overall amount of oil is lower.........
The lefties will be playing on top of the shim this year there is no doubt......unless there is enough of them to break it down......if that happens they too will have to use weaker stuff and move in............especially in doubles and singles. Many of them might be throwing shiny stuff right off the bat.....
The righties I'm afraid will be better off to start inside the extra loads.....reason being more oil down the lane will result a ball reaction with more hang to the right especially with those extra loads at 6 and 9. You are going to be better staying away from that in the long run.
For years and years it was so important for a team to break down the lanes correctly but with the increased oil it isn't the case anymore......your better off playing a little further in on the fresh because there is so much oil.....your better off playing the puddle for hold then wasting time trying to create more dry to the right......If the volume was lighter like it was a few years ago......I could see it........
The higher rev players again will have the advantage.......the bowlers who slow hooked the lane with great success won't have the nut like they did the past 2 years.......but they will be given a big bone again........The tweeners and strokers should have a little more this year if they take my advice with equipment issues........ The straighter players are again ........since it is almost March Madness time should we say........air ball...... unless they take a chance on my equipment selection advice.......then maybe they can make a few buckets or at least hit the rim........
Wanted to put a little note here that it is worth every penny to get some coaching from Mike Jasnau at the Gold Coast while you are there.......(Same site as the Bowlers Journal Tournament) but remember don't get sucked in by playing the conditions the same as the Open.........that is what happened to people last year.......and again that's the case this year too............ P.S. Another note.........im my opinion.......the lane installation was pretty poor this year so from lane to lane on the fresh there will be a dramatic difference on some pairs so if one lane is playing almost an arrow tighter right off the bat...chances are the lane isn't really level and you will need to make an adjustment.... Good luck all....
February 7, 2009
Surprise.....Surprise.....More bad bowling decisions................
United States Bowling Congress just announced a breakthrough sponsorship agreement with Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel to be the official bracket sponsor for the USBC Open Championships.............
"We are excited about our partnership with Binion's and the Four Queens, and their support will definitely play a big role in the success of the 2009 Open Championships," said Jack Mordini, USBC Vice President of Tournaments and Events. "We are expecting a near-record number of bowlers, and we know they will take excellent care of them and their families during our time in Las Vegas."
Hey Jack.........I'm sure Binion's will take care of us...........but what will USBC do for us.............Answer: Nothing
Hey Jack........How is their support going to play a big role in the success of the 2009 Open Championships in Las Vegas............. Answer: Well it adds a six figure sponsorship agreement to USBC's pocketbook
Hey Jack........Is anything going to be done for the bowlers.......Answer: Yeah Binion's will roll out the red carpet for ya
Hey Jack........No!!!!! I mean is anything going to be done for the bowlers by USBC...... Answer: Do we need to do something for them
Hey Jack........Why do we need to pick up our bracket money over at Binion's...... Answer: Well that was part of the sponsorship deal
Hey Jack........Don't you think this is an inconvenience for the bowlers who get into brackets. They are made to go get their money somewhere else besides the tournament site........ Answer: Well it is a six figure sponsorship deal....... Can't the bowlers just go over there to get their money.........If you don't want to go get your bracket money we will make sure you eventually get it at some point (Between 30 to 90 days)
Hey Jack........If you care about the bowlers that support your organization and then you inconvenience them and give them nothing in return how is it beneficial to them..... Answer: It isn't but the six figure deal for USBC is sure great.....Yes
Maybe Jack don't know jack........Lol Anytime a decision like this is made, it's made without thinking about the bowler first..... I don't get it..... If they put that sponsorship money to good use that is one thing.........but do nothing.......
Yes I have vented in the past regarding the money issue and the lack of throwing it back to the bowler......and yes people have their opinion about me saying it's because of it being a personal matter with me........which is not the case.....the real truth is I can't handle the lack of common sense and stupidity involved in the game of bowling anymore.........
Here's an idea with some bowling common sense.......how about taking a portion of that money and put it towards the tournament........... how about added prize money ..... maybe a Team All-events Prize list for the top overall teams.....maybe a cash prize for all 300's and 800's......maybe random prize drawings for bowlers participating in the tournament....... and many other ideas that show that you are giving something back to them. Shouldn't some sponsored money be thrown into the tournament? The only time USBC every gives anything to the bowlers is when the bowlers have done something extra for USBC. Remember that added prize money they threw in if you bowled the Roto-Grip Challenge and the Bowlers Journal Championship tournament, two tournaments that USBC profited financially from. Oh Yeah......
Hey I understand that this is a business.......(even though your organization is listed as a non-profit one) but if you keep throwing the bowlers under the bus everytime there is a financial gain for you and nothing for the people who truly support your tournament and/or your organization.......... eventually they will quit supporting you. It will only be a matter of time because looking at your declining membership year after year.....can you really afford to keep pissing people off with bad decisions like this one..........
Maybe Jack will come to his senses a little or maybe not.........time will tell I guess......maybe there will be another announcement coming soon!!!!!! And if there is I can surely bet it's because they read this article from me..........Lol
As bowlers who support the USBC financially like we do..........can't we be given a little piece of the pie........instead of always being left the crumbs.....
November 25, 2008
I REALLY HAD TO LAUGH ABOUT THE STORY ROGER DALKIN WROTE ABOUT BILL TAYLOR AND HIS SHOTMAKER PINS IN THE BOWLERS JOURNAL MAGAZINE IN THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF 2008.................
All I can say is Wow........ I actually can't believe Mr. Dalkin would write such an article? First of all, what is he trying to prove........Is he proving that Mr. Taylor was a nut case or something ...........I don't get it!!!!! I guess it could of been better if the whole story was told instead of one incident that was made to make Mr. Taylor look bad. Maybe Roger didn't have anything else interesting to talk about an had to go back 17+ years for a story? Let me add my extra take on this article shall we........
First of all why pick on a guy 17 years later about some pins.......what does it have to do with now.......Is Roger saying that the sport turned into a joke because Bill was trying to market his pins and make a few bucks with some outrageous claims? So is Roger saying that if Bill wouldn't of been a lunatic and tried to talk with some common sense with the ABC then 17 years later the sport wouldn't be in such a mess? Well I guess it is Bill Taylor's fault then........Lol.....
Let me ask two questions and give you my honest answer.........................
1. If Bill Taylor wasn't a nut case as you made him out to be in your article and he worked with the ABC/USBC all of these years to combat the problems with the game and the sport of bowling, would things be different? Answer: Probably not, because in 17 years the sport of bowling has continued to go down hill because of a number of things. Politics,Money,Lack of bowling common sense and in all reality being scared. Yes being scared.......Lol ABC/USBC has always backed down in making decisions for the better of the sport. They have always backed down.....They backed down to the BPAA in the 80's with scoring conditions and they backed down from the ball companies with equipment. The only time ABC/USBC hasn't backed down in making a decision within the sport is when they have been made a fool of like the Robert Mushtare situation.....
2. Here is a quote from Roger's article.........TAYLOR COULD OF BEEN ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY HAD HE CHOSEN TO ENJOIN OTHERS, ADMIT MISTAKES AND TRULY WORK ON ISSUES. So is he blaming Mr. Bill for the way the sport of bowling turned into.......is he saying the system of bowling was a failure..... I think what really failed was the lack of integrity made by people who had a voice in proper decision making for the sport of bowling.
I am actually sad Bill didn't work with the ISSUES.......but we all know it wouldn't have changed anything........because ABC never did anything important for the sport of bowling until it was too late...........At least one good thing happened..........Mr. Bill Taylor didn't go down on the sinking ship like the author of this article did........
